Fighting back against GBV
ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi accompanied SANCO Ward 44 branch executive members last Friday on a door-to-door campaign through the area, distributing flyers and educating communities on gender-based violence and femicide.
The group of about 50 people, all dressed in black Tshirts, started in Tshatshu Village, and then moved through to Sweetwaters, ending the campaign in Breidbach.
During the day, the group also visited Phakamisa chief Lindile Tshatshu and spoke with families in other areas of the ward to identify challenges. Sanco secretary Stacey Gosling said the campaign was organised after numerous plenary meetings were held at Calata House with members of the ANC provincial structure.
“Due to our commitment, dedication and interaction with all people on the ground within our ward, we saw a need to run the programme,” Gosling said.
“Gender-based violence is a phenomenon deeply rooted in gender inequality and continues to be one of the most notable human rights violations within all societies.
“Both women and men experience gender-based violence, but the majority of victims are women.”
Gosling said GBV and “violence against women” were terms that were often used interchangeably, as it was widely acknowledged that most gender-based violence was afflicted on women and girls, by men.
“However, using the genderbased qualifier is important as it highlights the fact that many forms of violence against women are rooted in power inequalities between women and men,” she said.
Gosling is expected to speak at another GBV event on Friday and said the aim of the event was to help prevent and combat violence against women, as well as all forms of domestic violence.